Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The present invention is configured such that an ice maker ( 50 ), a dispenser ( 60 ) and the other related components are installed to a refrigerator door 40 that opens and closes a storage space ( 33 ) of a main body ( 32 ) of the refrigerator, of which walls are formed of insulating layers ( 31 ). A water supply tube ( 80 ) is provided in the door ( 40 ) to pass through a lower hinge ( 47 ) and extend through the door so that water can be supplied to a filter ( 70 ) in a filter chamber ( 71 ) defined within the door ( 40 ). The water purified in the filter ( 70 ) is supplied through a valve ( 75 ) to the ice maker ( 50 ) and dispenser ( 60 ). The filter chamber ( 71 ) is configured to be opened and closed by a service door ( 72 ) so that a user can more easily exchange the filter ( 70 ). The service door ( 72 ) is provided in front of the door ( 40 ). According to the present invention constructed as such, since the ice maker ( 50 ), the dispenser ( 60 ) and the related components are integrated within the door ( 40 ), the storage space ( 33 ) defined by the main body ( 32 ) of the refrigerator can be further increased. In addition, a function of the refrigerator can also be improved by merely exchanging the door ( 40 ) rather than the whole refrigerator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly,to a refrigerator with a dispenser, an ice maker and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Most large refrigerators recently on the market are provided with adispenser by which ice or water contained therein can be dispensedwithout opening a refrigerator door. Therefore, the dispenser canprevent cold air within the refrigerator from escaping to the outsideand provide users with more convenience. The refrigerator constructed assuch is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,130.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of aconventional refrigerator with an ice maker and a dispenser, asdisclosed in the '130 patent. Referring to the figure, water that hasflowed from the outside into the refrigerator through a connection tubeD1 passes through and is purified in a filter 1 mounted to a main body 0of the refrigerator. Then, the water is supplied or introduced to eitheran ice maker 2 for making ice or a storage tank 3 for storing thepurified water. A water supply valve 4 is installed between the filter 1and the ice maker/water storage tank 2, 3 so as to regulate an amount ofwater to be supplied to the ice maker 2 or storage tank 3.

The ice maker 2 and the water storage tank 3 are connected to adispenser 6 installed in a refrigerator door 5, through connection tubesD3, D2, respectively. The stored water and ice are supplied to thedispenser 6 through the connection tubes D2, D3, respectively. Then, auser can eat and drink the ice and water discharged from a dispenser 6through a dispensing port (not shown). In the '130 patent, the ice maker2 may also be installed to the main body 0 adjacent to the dispenser 6so that the ice can be directly supplied to the dispenser 6 withoutusing the connection tube D3.

However, there are the following problems in the prior art.

First of all, only the dispenser 6 is mounted to the refrigerator door 5and most other components related to the dispenser 6 are mounted in themain body 0 of the refrigerator. For example, the components such as theice maker 2, the water storage tank 3, and the filter 1 used forpurifying water supplied to the dispenser and ice maker 6, 2 arearranged in the main body 0 of the refrigerator. Thus, there is aproblem in that a refrigerator manufactured with the above componentsnot included therein cannot be upgraded for use in such a dispenserfunction.

Further, since the components related to the dispenser 6 are spacedapart from the dispenser 6, additional components are needed fortransferring the water or ice between the dispenser-related components.Therefore, there is another problem in that more interior space in therefrigerator is allocated for the additional components and the interiorconfiguration thereof is also complicated.

Furthermore, since the filter 1 of the refrigerator is generally mountedon a rear surface or in a rear portion of the main body 0 of therefrigerator, it is difficult to exchange the filter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems.An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator doorcapable of easily adding a dispenser function to a refrigerator, and arefrigerator using the refrigerator door.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeratorwherein a configuration needed for connecting components related to adispenser can be simplified by installing all the components within arefrigerator door.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeratorwherein a filter used in the refrigerator can be easily exchanged.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving theobjects, there is provided a refrigerator which comprises a main bodywith a storage space defined thereby, a door installed to the main bodyof the refrigerator for selectively opening and closing the storagespace, a water filter mounted in the door for purifying water suppliedfrom the outside of the main body of the refrigerator, a dispenserformed in front of the door for discharging the water purified in thefilter to the outside of the main body of the refrigerator, and an icemaker mounted in the door for making the water into ice.

According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving theobjects, there is provided a refrigerator door for opening and closing astorage space defined by a main body of a refrigerator. The refrigeratordoor comprises a water filter mounted in the door for purifying watersupplied from the outside of the main body of the refrigerator, adispenser for discharging the water purified in the filter to theoutside of the refrigerator through an exterior surface of the door, andan ice maker mounted in the door for making the water into ice.

The filter may be supplied with the water from an outside water sourcethrough a water supply tube that passes through a door hinge and extendsthrough the door of the refrigerator.

Preferably, the filter is mounted within a filter chamber formed in thedoor, and a service door is provided in the filter chamber forselectively opening and closing the filter chamber.

More preferably, a motor for driving the ice maker and a valve forregulating water supply to the ice maker and dispenser are furtherprovided in the filter chamber.

The filter chamber may be selectively opened and closed by a water basinthat is provided below the dispenser.

Preferably, a water supply tank in which heat exchange with cold air inthe storage space is made is further provided in a supply tube to thedispenser through which the water purified in the filter is supplied tothe dispenser.

A cutoff means for cutting off the water flowing toward the filter uponexchange of the filter may be further provided at a water supply tubethrough which the water is supplied from the outside source to thefilter.

According to the present invention constructed as such, since thedispenser, the ice maker and the related components are all installedwithin the door, the functions of the dispenser and the ice maker can beadded to the conventional refrigerator by merely exchanging aconventional door for the door with the dispenser and ice maker.Therefore, the productivity improvement and function upgrade can be madethrough common use of the main body of the refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of preferred embodimentsgiven in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view schematically showing a configurationof a conventional refrigerator with a dispenser, an ice maker and thelike;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a refrigeratoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a refrigeratoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another preferred embodiment of arefrigerator according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment of arefrigerator according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a still further preferred embodiment of arefrigerator according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a refrigerator according to thepresent invention will be explained in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view ofthe refrigerator according to the present invention.

Referring to the figures, a refrigerator 30 according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention is provided with a storage space 33within a main body 32 of the refrigerator of which walls are formed ofinsulating layers 31. In the embodiment of the present invention, twostorage spaces 33 are generally formed such that they can be opened andclosed by doors 40, 40′, respectively.

Door handles 42 are installed to the doors 40, 40′, respectively. Upperand lower hinges 45, 47, which serve as pivot centers for the openingand closing of the doors 40, 40′, are provided at upper and lower endsof the doors 40, 40′, respectively.

In the meantime, one of the doors 40, preferably a freezing chamberdoor, is provided with an ice maker 50, a dispenser 60, a water filter70, and the like. First, the ice maker 50 is disposed at an upperportion of an interior side of the door 40 for making water suppliedthereto into ice. An ice storage bin 52 is installed below the ice maker50 for storing the ice made in the ice maker 50. A sensor 53 is disposedat a top portion of the ice storage bin 52 for detecting an amount ofice stored in the ice storage bin 52. Since the configuration andoperation of the sensor 53 is common, a detailed description thereofwill be omitted.

An ice moving mechanism 55 capable of moving the ice is provided in theice storage bin 52, and an ice crusher 56 is installed below the icemoving mechanism 55 and coaxially with an axis of rotation thereof. Theice moving mechanism 55 is formed by helically bending a wire andfunctions to move the ice. The ice crusher 56 functions to crush orcrack the ice transferred by the ice moving mechanism 55. A motor 58 fordriving the ice moving mechanism 55 and ice crusher 56 is arranged abovea filter chamber 71 to be described later. Driving power of the motor 58is transferred to the ice moving mechanism 55 and the ice crusher 56through a drive shaft 59′ that is placed within a conduit 59 installedin the interior of the refrigerator door 40.

A dispenser 60 is exposed to and provided onto a front surface of therefrigerator door 40. The dispenser 60 allows users to eat the ice anddrink the cold water without opening the door 40. The dispenser 60 isprovided with an opening lever 62 and a discharge port 63. The openinglever 62 is configured to allow the water to be supplied through thedischarge port 63 when pressed by a user with a container such as a cup.Furthermore, an ice outlet 65 through which the ice in the ice storagebin 52 is discharge is provided at an upper portion of the dispenser 60.That is, the ice in the ice storage bin 52 is transferred to thecontainer such as a cup of the user through the ice outlet 65.

Meanwhile, a filter 70 is provided within the filter chamber 71 that isdefined within the door 40 and below the dispenser 60. The filter 70functions to purify the water supplied to the ice maker 50 and thedispenser 60. The filter chamber 71 is opened and closed by a servicedoor 72 that is installed on an exterior surface of the door 40. Thus,the users can exchange the filter 70 by opening the service door 72 infront of the door 40. Although the service door 72 is provided on theexterior surface of the refrigerator door 40 as in the preferredembodiment of the present invention, it may be configured to be placedon an interior surface of the door 40. As a result, an externalappearance of the door 40 can be more stylish.

Further, a valve 75 is installed within the filter chamber 71. The valve75 regulates the transfer of water purified in the filter 70 into theice maker 50 and/or the dispenser 60. Here, the valves 75 may beprovided for the ice maker 50 and the dispenser 60, respectively.Furthermore, only one valve with two individually controllable outletsmay be provided.

Now, the configuration for supplying water from the outside of therefrigerator 30 to the ice maker 50 and the dispenser 60 will bediscussed. A water supply tube 80 is configured to pass through thelower hinge 47. An end of the water supply tube 80 is connected to theoutside water source, and the other end thereof is connected to thefilter 70. Of course, it may be configured such that a portion of thewater supply tube 80, which extends from the lower hinge 47 to theoutside of the refrigerator 30, is not seen from the front of therefrigerator 30 and detachably mounted to the lower hinge 47.

A connection tube 82 is provided to supply water purified in the filter70 to the valve 75. A supply tube 84 to the ice maker and a supply tube86 to the dispenser are provided in order to supply the water, which istransferred through the connection tube 82 to the valve 75, to the icemaker 50 and the dispenser 60, respectively. The supply tube 84 and thesupply tube 86 extend through the insulating layer 31 of therefrigerator door 40. An end of the supply tube 84 is connected to thevalve 75, and the other end thereof is connected to the ice maker 50.Further, an end of the supply tube 86 is connected to the valve 75, andthe other end thereof is connected to the discharge port 63 of thedispenser 60.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a refrigerator according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. For simplicity of explanation, thedescription of the components identical to those of the embodiment shownin FIGS. 2 and 3 will be omitted. In this embodiment, a water supplytank 90 for temporarily storing water to be supplied through thedispenser 60 is further provided. That is, the water supply tank 90 isprovided at one side of the supply tube 86 for temporarily storing thewater to be transferred to the discharge port 63 of the dispenser 60through the supply tube 86.

Here, the water supply tank 90 is configured such that the tank issubjected to an influence of the temperature of a storage space 33 whichcan be accessed by opening and closing the refrigerator door 40. Inparticular, in a case where the storage space 33 is a freezing chamber,the water in the water supply tank 90 can be kept at a relatively lowtemperature. Therefore, the user can drink relatively cold waterdischarged from the dispenser 70.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a refrigerator according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention. For simplicity of explanation, thedescription of the components identical to those of the embodiment shownin FIGS. 2 and 3 will also be herein omitted. In this embodiment, acutoff valve 95 is installed at one side of the water supply tube 80corresponding to the inlet of the filter 70. The cutoff valve 95 is usedto cut off the water flowing through the water supply tube 80 uponexchange of the filter 70. Furthermore, in order to cut off the waterflowing the water supply tube 80 upon exchange of the filter 70, avariety of configurations other than the cutoff valve 95 may be employedin the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a still further embodiment of the present invention. Theconfiguration of this embodiment different from that shown in FIGS. 2and 3 will be explained. In this embodiment of the present invention,the service door 72 is not provided on the exterior surface of the door40. In addition, the filter chamber 71 is formed within the door 40 tobe placed below the dispenser 60.

A top portion of the filter chamber 71 is in communication with a bottomportion of the dispenser 60, and a water basin 97 is installed below thedispenser 60. The water basin 97 collects water residue produced fromthe dispenser 60, and it may also function to selectively close the topportion of the filter chamber 71.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the refrigerator of thepresent invention constructed as such will be explained in detail.

First, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, all the components related to the icemaker 50 and the dispenser 60 are installed to the refrigerator door 40.That is, the ice maker 50, the dispenser 60, the filter 70, the valve75, the water supply tube 80 for the supply of water between the abovecomponents, and the like are all provided at the door 40. Therefore, theice maker 50, the dispenser 60, and the like can be integrated with thedoor 40, and a single integrated assembly part can be supplied into amain manufacturing line.

Thus, since the ice maker 50, the dispenser 60 and the other relatedcomponents are previously provided to the door 40, the conventionalrefrigerator can be easily provided with the ice maker 50 and thedispenser 60 by merely exchanging a conventional door for the door 40.The function of the conventional refrigerator can be easily upgraded.

In the meantime, water is supplied to the filter 70 through the watersupply tube 80 which passes through the lower hinge 47 and connects thedoor 40 with the outside of the refrigerator 30. The water is purifiedin the filter 70, and the purified water is then transferred to the icemaker 50 and the dispenser 60 under the control of the valve 75.

The water transferred into the ice maker 50 is made into ice. Then, theice is temporarily stored in the ice storage bin 52. At this time, theice made in the ice maker 50 will be selectively delivered into the icestorage bin 52 by causing the sensor 53 to detect the amount of icestored in the ice storage bin 52.

The ice stored in the ice storage bin 52 is discharged through the iceoutlet 65 of the dispenser 60 whenever dispensing signals aretransmitted to the dispenser 60. At this time, the ice moving mechanism55 causes the ice to move by means of the motor 59. The ice is crushedor cracked by the ice crusher 56, and then supplied to the ice outlet65.

In addition, water is released from the dispenser 60 by causing the userto push the opening lever 62 with the cup or other containers. That is,when the opening lever 62 is pushed, the valve 75 is opened to allow theconnection tube 82 and the supply tube 86 to communicate with each otherso that the water can be supplied to the dispenser 60. The watertransferred to the supply tube 86 is discharged to the cup or othercontainers of the user through the discharge port 63.

Furthermore, the filter 70 should be replaced periodically. That is, inorder to replace the filter 70, the service door 72 is opened so thatthe filter chamber 71 can be seen from the front of the door 40. Then,the filter 70 is exchanged. At this time, the water source, e.g. a waterfacet, connected to the water supply tube 80 should be first turned off,and the filter 70 should be then exchanged. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 5, after the cutoff valve 95 is operated to close the water supplytube 80, the filter 70 may be exchanged. Therefore, the filter 70 can bereplaced more easily from the refrigerator according to the embodimentshown in FIG. 5.

Then, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the water basin 97may be simply removed so as to exchange the filter 70. When the waterreceptacle 97 is removed, the top portion of the filter chamber 71 isopened so that the filter 70 is also exposed. After the filter 70 hasbeen exchanged, the water basin 97 can be simply positioned in place.Therefore, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the externalappearance of the refrigerator door 40 can be more stylish.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the water supply tank 90 isinfluenced by cold air in the storage space 33, i.e. the freezingchamber of the refrigerator, which is selectively opened and closed bythe door 40. Thus, the water stored in the water supply tank 90 is keptat a relatively low temperature, so that the relatively cold water canbe released from the dispenser 60 and supplied to the user.

As specifically described above, the refrigerator according to thepresent invention is configured in such a manner that the ice maker, thedispenser and the related components are installed to the door capableof selectively opening and closing the storage space of the main body ofthe refrigerator. Accordingly, the functions of the dispenser and theice maker can be added to the conventional refrigerator by merelyexchanging a conventional door for the door with the dispenser and icemaker. Thus, the function of the conventional refrigerator can be easilyupgraded. Further, the main bodies of the refrigerators can be commonlyproduced and used in both models with and without the dispenser and icemaker. Thus, there is an advantage in that costs of production can bereduced.

In addition, since the dispenser, the ice maker, the filter, the valve,and the like are installed adjacent to one another, the configurationsfor connecting the components with one another can be simplified and donot occupy the storage space in the main body of the refrigerator.Therefore, there is another advantage in that the storage space can berelatively increased.

Further, according to the present invention, the filter is installed tothe door of the refrigerator, and the filter chamber in which the filteris installed can be opened and closed by the service door. Thus, thefilter can be exchanged more easily. Moreover, the external appearanceof the refrigerator door can be more improved by using the water basinfor opening and closing the filter chamber.

Furthermore, the water supplied to the dispenser is temporarily storedin the water supply tank in which heat exchange with the freezingchamber can be made. Therefore, there is also an advantage in that thetemperature of the water released from the dispenser can be relativelylowered so that the user can drink the cold water.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications can be made thereto withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore,the embodiments should be considered as not restrictive butillustrative. Further, the true scope of the present invention isdefined by the appended claims, and changes and modifications should beconstructed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body with a storage space definedthereby; a door installed to the main body of the refrigerator forselectively opening and closing the storage space; a water filtermounted in the door for purifying water supplied from the outside of themain body of the refrigerator; a dispenser formed in front of the doorfor discharging the water purified in the filter to the outside of themain body of the refrigerator; and an ice maker mounted in the door formaking the water into ice.
 2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1,wherein the filter is supplied with the water from an outside watersource through a water supply tube that passes through a door hinge andextends through the door of the refrigerator.
 3. The refrigerator asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the filter is mounted within a filterchamber formed in the door, and a service door is provided in the filterchamber for selectively opening and closing the filter chamber.
 4. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 2, wherein a motor for driving the icemaker and a valve for regulating water supply to the ice maker anddispenser are further provided in the filter chamber.
 5. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter chamber isselectively opened and closed by a water basin that is provided belowthe dispenser.
 6. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, wherein awater supply tank in which heat exchange with cold air in the storagespace is made is further provided in a supply tube to the dispenserthrough which the water purified in the filter is supplied to thedispenser.
 7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 6, wherein a cutoffmeans for cutting off the water flowing toward the filter upon exchangeof the filter is further provided at a water supply tube through whichthe water is supplied from the outside source to the filter.
 8. Arefrigerator door for opening and closing a storage space defined by amain body of a refrigerator, comprising: a water filter mounted in thedoor for purifying water supplied from the outside of the main body ofthe refrigerator; a dispenser for discharging the water purified in thefilter to the outside of the refrigerator through an exterior surface ofthe door; and an ice maker mounted in the door for making the water intoice.
 9. The refrigerator door as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filteris supplied with the water from an outside water source through a watersupply tube that passes through a door hinge and extends through thedoor of the refrigerator.
 10. The refrigerator door as claimed in claim8, wherein the filter is mounted within a filter chamber formed in thedoor, and a service door is provided in the filter chamber forselectively opening and closing the filter chamber.
 11. The refrigeratordoor as claimed in claim 9, wherein a motor for driving the ice makerand a valve for regulating water supply to the ice maker and dispenserare further provided in the filter chamber.
 12. The refrigerator door asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the filter chamber is selectively opened andclosed by a water basin that is provided below the dispenser.
 13. Therefrigerator door as claimed in claim 12, wherein a water supply tank inwhich heat exchange with cold air in the storage space is made isfurther provided in a supply tube to the dispenser through which thewater purified in the filter is supplied to the dispenser.